Integrated microbial cultivation device with wide temperature range

Abstract

This application relates to the field of microbial cultivation equipment technology, and in particular to a wide-temperature-range integrated microbial cultivation device, which includes a temperature control module, a culture container assembly, and a support frame. The temperature control module integrates a heating unit and a cooling unit, achieving efficient heat transfer through a heat-conducting medium channel. The culture container assembly is nested inside the module and features an antibacterial coating and a stirring mechanism to improve uniformity. The support frame has a sliding adjustment mechanism at its bottom for flexible height adjustment. This device adopts an integrated design, significantly improving its adaptability to a wide temperature range, simplifying its structure and reducing its space occupation. Simultaneously, it achieves precise temperature control through a PID control algorithm, providing an efficient, convenient, and economical solution for microbial cultivation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of microbial culture technology, specifically a wide-temperature-range integrated microbial culture device. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of microbial cultivation, temperature control is one of the important factors affecting the growth and reproduction efficiency of microorganisms; Currently, some microbial cultivation equipment based on technologies such as incubators, heating modules, or cooling devices has appeared on the market. However, these devices often require frequent adjustments based on changes in ambient temperature and have limited adaptability to a wide temperature range. In addition, these devices typically rely on independent temperature control systems and culture container designs, resulting in complex overall structures and large space requirements.

[0003] Therefore, we have made improvements to this and proposed a wide-temperature-range integrated microbial cultivation device. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of existing microbial cultivation equipment in terms of wide temperature range adaptability, as well as the problems of complex structure and large space occupation caused by the separation of independent temperature control system from culture container in traditional equipment.

[0005] To achieve the aforementioned objectives and address the aforementioned problems, this utility model provides a wide-temperature-range integrated microbial cultivation device, comprising a temperature control module, a cultivation container assembly, and a support frame. The temperature control module includes a heating unit and a cooling unit, which are connected via a heat-conducting medium channel to form a closed heat exchange loop. The cultivation container assembly is nested within the temperature control module, with a heat-conducting liner between them. The support frame is used to fix the temperature control module and the cultivation container assembly, and a sliding adjustment mechanism is provided at its bottom to accommodate different height requirements.

[0006] The temperature control module includes a ring-shaped heating tube and a cooling fin assembly. The ring-shaped heating tube surrounds the outer periphery of the culture container assembly, and its inner wall is in contact with a heat-conducting liner. The cooling fin assembly is installed on the outside of the ring-shaped heating tube, with the cold end of the cooling fin assembly facing the ring-shaped heating tube and the hot end facing the external heat dissipation fins. The two ends of the ring-shaped heating tube are respectively connected to the inlet and outlet of a heat-conducting medium channel, which is filled with a liquid heat-conducting medium. Heat transfer and distribution are achieved through the liquid heat-conducting medium under the action of a circulating pump.

[0007] As a preferred technical solution of this application, the culture container assembly includes an inner culture chamber and an outer insulation shell, with a vacuum insulation layer between the inner culture chamber and the outer insulation shell. The inner wall of the inner culture chamber is coated with an antibacterial coating to reduce the possibility of microbial contamination. A stirring mechanism is provided at the bottom of the inner culture chamber, which includes a drive motor and stirring blades. The drive motor is connected to the stirring blades via a coupling, and the rotation direction of the stirring blades is consistent with the liquid flow direction in the heat transfer medium channel, thereby improving the uniformity of the culture medium and the heat transfer efficiency.

[0008] As a preferred technical solution of this application, the heat-conducting liner is made of a high thermal conductivity metal material, and its surface is provided with multiple raised structures. The raised structures are in contact with the outer wall of the inner culture chamber to increase the heat conduction area and improve the heat transfer efficiency. The outer side of the heat-conducting liner is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the annular heating tube by bolts to ensure a tight fit between the two.

[0009] As a preferred technical solution of this application, the support frame includes a base and columns. A sliding adjustment mechanism is provided at each of the four corners of the base. The sliding adjustment mechanism includes an adjusting screw and a slider. The slider engages with the adjusting screw via a thread, and the top of the slider is fixedly connected to the bottom of the column. By rotating the adjusting screw, the height of the column can be adjusted to accommodate different height requirements.

[0010] As a preferred technical solution of this application, the sliding adjustment mechanism further includes a limiting plate, which is fixed to the upper surface of the base. The limiting plate has a guide groove on its inner side, and the slider slides along the guide groove to ensure stability during the adjustment process. The limiting plate has scale markings on its outer side to facilitate precise control of the column height by the operator.

[0011] As a preferred technical solution of this application, the temperature control module further includes a temperature sensor and a controller. The temperature sensor is installed on the inner wall of the inner culture chamber and is used to monitor the temperature changes in the culture chamber in real time. The controller is electrically connected to the temperature sensor, the annular heating tube and the cooling plate group, and automatically adjusts the working state of the annular heating tube and the cooling plate group according to the feedback signal of the temperature sensor to maintain the temperature stability in the culture chamber.

[0012] As a preferred technical solution of this application, the controller employs a PID control algorithm, which dynamically adjusts the output power of the annular heating tube and the cooling fin assembly through proportional, integral, and derivative operations, thereby achieving precise temperature control. The controller panel is equipped with a display screen and buttons for displaying the current temperature value and the set target temperature value.

[0013] As a preferred technical solution of this application, a flow meter and a pressure sensor are respectively installed at the inlet and outlet of the heat transfer medium channel to monitor changes in the flow rate and pressure of the heat transfer medium. The flow meter and pressure sensor are electrically connected to the controller. When an abnormality is detected, the controller will issue an alarm signal and automatically cut off the power supply to the circulating pump to prevent equipment damage.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: By integrating the heating and cooling units into a single module and combining them with a heat-conducting medium channel to achieve efficient heat transfer, the device's adaptability across a wide temperature range is significantly improved. Simultaneously, the integrated design of the culture container assembly and temperature control module reduces the device's size and complexity, lowering manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the combination of a sliding adjustment mechanism and a limiting plate allows for flexible height adjustment, further enhancing the device's versatility. This combination of technical features and methods solves the problems of limited temperature control range, complex structure, and large space occupation in existing technologies, providing an efficient, convenient, and economical solution for the field of microbial cultivation. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the temperature control module of this utility model.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the thermally conductive liner structure of this utility model.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cooling chip assembly structure of this utility model.

[0019] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the culture container assembly of this utility model.

[0020] The attached figures are labeled as follows: 1. Temperature control module; 2. Culture container assembly; 3. Support frame; 4. Annular heating tube; 5. Cooling plate assembly; 6. Heat transfer medium channel; 7. Inner culture chamber; 8. Outer insulation shell; 9. Vacuum insulation layer; 10. Stirring mechanism; 11. Heat-conducting liner; 12. Adjusting screw; 13. Slider; 14. Limiting plate; 15. Controller; 16. Temperature sensor; 17. Flow meter; 18. Pressure sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0021] This utility model provides a wide-temperature-range integrated microbial cultivation device, the structure and operating principle of which will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Figure 1As shown, the device includes a temperature control module 1, a culture container assembly 2, and a support frame 3. The temperature control module 1, as the core component, is used to meet the temperature regulation requirements over a wide temperature range; the culture container assembly 2 is nested inside the temperature control module 1, forming a close heat exchange relationship with it; and the support frame 3 achieves flexible height adjustment through a sliding adjustment mechanism.

[0022] The specific structure of temperature control module 1 is as follows: Figure 2 As shown, it mainly includes an annular heating tube 4, a cooling fin assembly 5, and a heat-conducting medium channel 6. The annular heating tube 4 surrounds the outer periphery of the culture container assembly 2 and is tightly fitted to the outer wall of the inner culture chamber 7 through a heat-conducting liner 11. The two ends of the annular heating tube 4 are connected to the inlet and outlet of the heat-conducting medium channel 6, respectively. The heat-conducting medium channel 6 is filled with liquid heat-conducting medium, which flows along a closed loop under the action of a circulating pump, thereby realizing the transfer and distribution of heat. The cooling fin assembly 5 is installed on the outside of the annular heating tube 4, with its cold end facing the annular heating tube 4 and its hot end facing the external heat dissipation fins. Through the action of the cold and hot ends of the cooling fin assembly 5, the cooling function can be effectively realized. The annular heating tube 4 and the cooling fin assembly 5 together constitute an integrated temperature control system, which can achieve precise temperature control over a wide temperature range.

[0023] Structural details of culture container component 2 are as follows Figure 5 As shown, it consists of an inner culture chamber 7 and an outer insulation shell 8, with a vacuum insulation layer 9 between them. The inner wall of the inner culture chamber 7 is coated with an antibacterial coating to reduce the possibility of microbial contamination. A stirring mechanism 10 is located at the bottom of the inner culture chamber 7. The stirring mechanism 10 includes a drive motor and stirring blades. The drive motor is connected to the stirring blades via a coupling, and the rotation direction of the stirring blades is consistent with the liquid flow direction in the heat transfer medium channel 6. This design not only improves the uniformity of the culture medium but also enhances the heat transfer efficiency. The outer wall of the inner culture chamber 7 is in contact with a heat-conducting liner 11, which is made of a high thermal conductivity metal material. Its surface has multiple raised structures that are in close contact with the outer wall of the inner culture chamber 7, increasing the heat conduction area and improving heat transfer efficiency. The outer side of the heat-conducting liner 11 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the annular heating tube 4 by bolts, ensuring a tight fit between the two.

[0024] The structure of support frame 3 is as follows Figure 1As shown, it includes a base and a column. The base has sliding adjustment mechanisms at its four corners, each mechanism consisting of an adjusting screw 12 and a slider 13. The slider 13 is threaded onto the adjusting screw 12, and its top is fixedly connected to the bottom of the column. Rotating the adjusting screw 12 adjusts the column's height to accommodate different spatial requirements. The sliding adjustment mechanism also includes a limiting plate 14, which is fixed to the upper surface of the base. The limiting plate 14 has a guide groove on its inner side, along which the slider 13 slides to ensure stability during adjustment. The limiting plate 14 has graduations on its outer side for precise control of the column's height.

[0025] Temperature control module 1 also includes temperature sensor 16 and controller 15, such as Figure 3 As shown. Temperature sensor 16 is installed on the inner wall of the inner culture chamber 7 to monitor temperature changes in the culture chamber in real time. Controller 15 is electrically connected to temperature sensor 16, annular heating tube 4, and cooling plate group 5. Based on the feedback signal from temperature sensor 16, it automatically adjusts the working state of annular heating tube 4 and cooling plate group 5 to maintain a stable temperature in the culture chamber. Controller 15 uses a PID control algorithm to dynamically adjust the output power of annular heating tube 4 and cooling plate group 5 through proportional, integral, and derivative operations, thereby achieving precise temperature control. The controller 15 has a display screen and buttons on its panel to display the current temperature value and the set target temperature value. Flow meter 17 and pressure sensor 18 are respectively installed at the inlet and outlet of heat transfer medium channel 6. Flow meter 17 and pressure sensor 18 are electrically connected to controller 15. When an abnormal situation is detected, controller 15 will issue an alarm signal and automatically cut off the power to the circulation pump to prevent equipment damage.

[0026] In practical applications, the height of the support frame 3 is first adjusted using a sliding adjustment mechanism to adapt the device to the space requirements of the laboratory or production workshop. Then, the culture medium is injected into the inner culture chamber 7, and the stirring mechanism 10 is activated to ensure uniform distribution of the culture medium. Next, the target temperature value is set via the controller 15, which adjusts the operating status of the annular heating tube 4 and the cooling plate assembly 5 based on the feedback signal from the temperature sensor 16. When heating is required, the annular heating tube 4 is activated, and the liquid heat transfer medium, under the action of the circulating pump, transfers heat to the heat-conducting liner 11, and then through the heat-conducting liner 11, transfers heat to the inner culture chamber 7. When cooling is required, the cooling plate assembly 5 is activated; its cold end absorbs heat from the annular heating tube 4 and dissipates the heat to the external environment through its hot end, while the liquid heat transfer medium continues to circulate to maintain temperature uniformity. Throughout the entire operation, the flow meter 17 and pressure sensor 18 monitor the flow and pressure changes within the heat transfer medium channel 6 in real time to ensure the safe operation of the system.

[0027] In the above embodiments, the connection and positional relationships between the various components have been carefully designed. For example, the annular heating tube 4 and the heat-conducting liner 11 are fixedly connected by bolts, ensuring a tight fit between the two; the raised structure of the heat-conducting liner 11 contacts the outer wall of the inner culture chamber 7, increasing the heat-conducting area; the sliding adjustment mechanism achieves precise height adjustment through the cooperation of the adjusting screw 12, the slider 13, and the limiting plate 14. These designs not only ensure the efficient operation of the device but also significantly improve its applicability and reliability.

[0028] To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and implement this utility model, the following supplementary explanation of the specific implementation principle of this utility model is provided in conjunction with a specific application scenario.

[0029] First, the operator places the wide-temperature-range integrated microbial culture device on the laboratory workbench and adjusts the height of the support frame 3 using the sliding adjustment mechanism. Specifically, rotating the adjusting screw 12 causes the slider 13 to slide along the guide groove of the limiting plate 14 until the height of the column matches the space requirements of the laboratory table. The scale markings on the limiting plate 14 provide a precise reference for height adjustment, ensuring that the device can adapt to operating environments at different heights. After the height adjustment is completed, the threaded engagement between the slider 13 and the adjusting screw 12 ensures the stability of the column, thereby preventing the device from shaking during operation.

[0030] Next, the operator injects the microbial solution to be cultured into the inner culture chamber 7. After injection, the stirring mechanism 10 is activated, and the drive motor rotates the stirring blades to ensure uniform distribution of the culture medium. The rotation direction of the stirring blades is consistent with the liquid flow direction within the heat transfer medium channel 6. This design not only improves the uniformity of the culture medium but also enhances heat transfer efficiency. Furthermore, the inner wall of the inner culture chamber 7 is coated with an antibacterial coating, which effectively reduces the possibility of microbial contamination, thereby ensuring the reliability of the culture process.

[0031] Subsequently, the target temperature value is set via controller 15. For example, if the target temperature is 37°C, controller 15 will dynamically adjust the operating status of the annular heating tube 4 and the cooling plate assembly 5 based on the temperature changes within the inner culture chamber 7 monitored in real time by temperature sensor 16. When the temperature within the culture chamber is lower than the target value, the annular heating tube 4 is activated, and the liquid heat transfer medium flows along the heat transfer medium channel 6 under the action of the circulating pump. After absorbing heat from the annular heating tube 4, the liquid heat transfer medium is transferred to the heat transfer liner 11, and then the heat transfer liner 11 conducts the heat to the inner culture chamber 7, thereby achieving temperature rise. The raised structure on the surface of the heat transfer liner 11 increases the contact area with the outer wall of the inner culture chamber 7, further improving the heat transfer efficiency.

[0032] When the temperature inside the culture chamber exceeds the target value, the cooling fin assembly 5 activates. Its cold end absorbs heat from the annular heating tube 4 and dissipates the heat to the external heat dissipation fins through its hot end. Simultaneously, the liquid heat transfer medium continues to circulate to maintain temperature uniformity within the culture chamber. The controller 15 employs a PID control algorithm, performing proportional, integral, and derivative calculations on the output power of the annular heating tube 4 and the cooling fin assembly 5 to achieve precise temperature control. The display screen shows the current temperature value in real time, facilitating operator monitoring of the culture process.

[0033] Throughout operation, flow meter 17 and pressure sensor 18 monitor the flow and pressure changes at the inlet and outlet of the heat transfer medium channel 6, respectively. When an abnormality is detected (such as excessively low flow or excessively high pressure), controller 15 will issue an alarm signal and automatically cut off the power to the circulating pump to prevent equipment damage. This multi-layered protection mechanism ensures the safety and reliability of the system.

[0034] Furthermore, a vacuum insulation layer 9 is provided between the outer insulating shell 8 and the inner culture chamber 7 of the culture container assembly 2, which effectively reduces heat loss and thus improves energy utilization efficiency. At the same time, the presence of the vacuum insulation layer 9 also reduces the influence of the external ambient temperature on the temperature inside the culture chamber, further enhancing the adaptability of the device within a wide temperature range.

[0035] Through the above steps, the wide-temperature-range integrated microbial cultivation device can operate stably under different temperature conditions, meeting the needs of microbial growth and reproduction. The design of this device not only solves the problems of limited temperature control range, complex structure, and large space occupation in existing technologies, but also significantly improves operational convenience and cultivation efficiency. This combination of technical features and methods provides an efficient, reliable, and economical solution for the field of microbial cultivation.

Claims

1. A wide-temperature-range integrated microbial cultivation device, characterized in that, The device includes a temperature control module (1), a culture container assembly (2), and a support frame (3). The temperature control module (1) includes an annular heating tube (4) and a cooling plate assembly (5). The annular heating tube (4) surrounds the outer periphery of the culture container assembly (2). The cooling plate assembly (5) is installed on the outside of the annular heating tube (4). The two ends of the annular heating tube (4) are respectively connected to the inlet and outlet of the heat conduction medium channel (6). The heat conduction medium channel (6) is filled with liquid heat conduction medium. The culture container assembly (2) is nested inside the temperature control module (1), and a heat conduction liner (11) is provided between the two. The support frame (3) is used to fix the temperature control module (1) and the culture container assembly (2).

2. The wide-temperature-range integrated microbial cultivation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The culture container assembly (2) includes an inner culture chamber (7) and an outer heat insulation shell (8). A vacuum insulation layer (9) is provided between the inner culture chamber (7) and the outer heat insulation shell (8). The inner wall of the inner culture chamber (7) is coated with an antibacterial coating. A stirring mechanism (10) is provided at the bottom of the inner culture chamber (7). The stirring mechanism (10) includes a drive motor and stirring blades. The drive motor is connected to the stirring blades through a coupling.

3. The wide-temperature-range integrated microbial cultivation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat-conducting liner (11) is made of a high thermal conductivity metal material and has multiple protrusions on its surface. The protrusions are in contact with the outer wall of the inner culture chamber (7). The outer side of the heat-conducting liner (11) is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the annular heating tube (4) by bolts.

4. The wide-temperature-range integrated microbial cultivation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support frame (3) includes a base and a column. The base is provided with a sliding adjustment mechanism at the four corners. The sliding adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment screw (12) and a slider (13). The slider (13) is engaged with the adjustment screw (12) by a thread. The top of the slider (13) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the column.

5. The wide-temperature-range integrated microbial cultivation device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The sliding adjustment mechanism also includes a limiting plate (14), which is fixed to the upper surface of the base. The inner side of the limiting plate (14) is provided with a guide groove, the slider (13) slides along the guide groove, and the outer side of the limiting plate (14) is provided with scale markings.

6. The wide-temperature-range integrated microbial cultivation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The temperature control module (1) also includes a temperature sensor (16) and a controller (15). The temperature sensor (16) is installed on the inner wall of the inner culture chamber (7), and the controller (15) is electrically connected to the annular heating tube (4) and the cooling plate group (5) of the temperature sensor (16).

7. The wide-temperature-range integrated microbial cultivation device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The controller (15) adopts a PID control algorithm, and the controller (15) has a display screen and buttons on its panel.

8. The wide-temperature-range integrated microbial cultivation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inlet and outlet of the heat-conducting medium channel (6) are respectively equipped with a flow meter (17) and a pressure sensor (18), and the flow meter (17) and the pressure sensor (18) are electrically connected to the controller (15).

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